Toss Away Those Neutrals
We appreciate neutral tones as much as the next homeowner, but personal spaces call for personal touches. The best way to achieve that is with vibrant splashes of color! Let’s dive into a few simple ways you can brighten your home.
1. Floral Arrangements
This seems like a no-brainer, but not many people invest in fresh florals! Depending on how green your thumb is, those poor petals could wither sooner than you’d like, which leaves you with a rather expensive mess to clean. But fresh florals are a breeze to care for with the right water and lighting—and they add a beautiful pop of color to any room.
2. Colorful Curtains
A lot of thought goes into our color coordinating, and it seems daunting to fidget with living room arrangements. But that main space is begging for some color, and the best way to get it is with bright window dressing. Patterned curtains or bold colors can turn your space into something completely new!
3. Playful Seating
If you don’t want to touch something as noticeable as the curtains, you can always keep it low-key with colorful seating. Bar stools and dining room chairs add a subtle pop without going overboard.
4. Accent Walls
Who said accent walls were a thing of the past? When combined with the right color scheme, they're as flashy or as faint as you make them. You can even stick to painting a nook to avoid any huge changes.
5. Fresh Coat of Paint
On the other hand, it’s go big or go home for some folks, and that means a fresh coat of paint on every wall! From bedroom refreshes to living room upgrades, a little brainstorming puts your best palette forward.
6. Refresh Old Furniture
Painting a room is no small task, and not everyone has the time to redo the kitchen. That’s okay! You can incorporate colorful touches with furniture alone. Don’t worry, you don’t need to go on a shopping spree—with a little sanding and a new coat of paint, chairs, dressers, and bookshelves can get a whole new life.
7. Throw Pillows
What’s better than a cute throw pillow? Whether they’re on your bed or resting on the sofa, those little pillows hold a lot of personality. Adorable patterns, loud colors, or even simple stripes can jazz up a dull space.
8. Area Rugs
Hardwood floors are nice, but they don’t always let you display that colorful personality. Enter area rugs. They may cost a pretty penny, but they also complement your color scheme and let you play with patterns.
9. Invest in Artwork
No wall deserves to be bare! Artwork is one of the best ways to showcase your style and brighten up a space. You can even visit your local library or peruse community groups to support smaller artists—talk about two birds with one stone.
10. Show Off Your Tchotchkes
This is your home, and those knick-knacks deserve a spot on the mantle. Sure, that shot glass might look a little weird on its own, but floating shelves let you display every tchotchke in style; that presentation not only adds personality, it adds color, too.
11. Table Linens
Don’t forget about table linens for a simple kitchen refresh. By rotating seasonal colors or patterns, you give your space a proper facelift every few months. If you don’t want to commit to the whole shebang, grab some placemats instead.
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12. Cute Bedding
New bedding is a great way to introduce some color without redoing a whole room. It also provides a vibrant pop to match your bedroom’s color scheme! The great news about this route is that you can adjust accordingly; introduce some throw pillows, switch up your duvet cover, or try printed sheets.
13. Baby Plants
Even black thumbs can safely welcome greenery into their space. Start small with easier indoor plants (rubber plant, string of pearls, philodendron) and work your way up to the harder stuff. Or don’t—the name of the game is to welcome color, not create a jungle.
14. Hang Tapestries
Tapestries seem a little too dorm room, but don’t get hung up on the stereotype. They’re actually a fantastic option to cover bare walls; they’re colorful, they come in a variety of sizes, and they won’t take up more space than you let them.
15. Throw Blanket
Throw blankets aren’t just for the bedroom! A simple blanket works great in a living room or reading nook, too, and it’s sometimes all you need to breathe new life into a drab area. Just make sure you pay attention to the material—the last thing you want is to be uncomfortable.
16. Open Shelves
There’s a reason people color-code their bookshelves! Open shelves let you display a wide variety of knick-knacks or collectibles, all of which can keep your space bursting with personality. Whether it’s your reading nook or shelves in the bedroom, don’t be afraid to introduce a little more of yourself.
17. Lamps
Not everyone wants to redo an entire room. They don’t always want to invest in expensive items like an area rug either. No problem—lamps are a simple, cost-effective way to literally brighten the room. Grab a smaller one for the bedroom or go bold with something different, like a stained glass floor lamp.
18. Paint the Doors
No one said doors had to be white. Consider your color scheme and work a fresh coat of paint onto your doors. While we can’t deny the curb appeal of a newly painted front door, inside doors offer just as much charm in the long run.
19. Towel Refresh
Are you looking for an easy-peasy refresh without spending (or doing) too much? It’s new towels to the rescue! Hand towels in the bathroom or tea towels in the kitchen provide that pop of color you’re looking for.
20. Mix and Match Patterns
Matching patterns isn’t always a walk in the park—you want things to blend, not clash, and it’s sometimes hard to know where to start. But with a little research and a solid Pinterest board, you’ll soon mix and match like the pros.
